• BMB Reports
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.585-589
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• 1998

The herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1)-encoded DNA polymerase consists of two subunits, the products of the UL30 and UL42 genes. UL30 and UL42 were coexpressed in Sf9 cells infected with recombinant baculoviruses carrying the two genes. The UL30 and UL42 gene products remained tightly associated throughout the purification, which led to a near homogeneous heterodimer composed of the DNA polymerase and UL42 protein. The DNA polymerase-UL42 protein heterodimer, purified from the recombinant baculovirus-infected Sf9 cells, showed the same high degree of processivity of deoxynucleotide polymerization as the enzyme purified from the HSV-1 infected primate cells. Like the latter, it contained a 3'-5' exonuclease activity that specifically hydrolyzes an incorrectly matched nucleotide at the 3' terminus of a primer, thereby contributing to the fidelity of DNA replication.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.714-720
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• 2000

Antigens of Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) strain F were immunoblotted to identify the most immunodominant one, and the localization of this antigen was then studied using immunoelectron microscopy. The 67.8 kDa antigen appeared to be the most immunodominant one in a mouse model, and it showed randomly scattered and partially clustered distribution on the surface of the virion. The localization study was performed using immunogold with polyclonal anti-HSV-1 sera produced from BALB/c mice, and immunofluorescence demonstrated that the viral products in the HSV-2 infected Vero cells were distributed throughout the infected host cell, however, mainly on the surface of the host membrane.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.45-52
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• 2001

Background: Many types of cancer become resistant to current chemotherapeutic and radiotherapeutic intervention. To overcome this situation application of gene therapy by the introduction of suicide genes followed by their prodrugs may be promising. A viral enzyme, Herpes simplex thymidine kinase (HSV-tk), which converts ganciclovir from an inactive prodrug to a cytotoxic agent by phosphorylation, are being actively investigated for use in gene therapy for cancer. The purpose of this study was to determine whether combining prodrug-activating gene therapy and irradiation might result in enhanced antitumor effects. Methods: The HSV-tk gene was cloned into the retroviral vector, pLXSN and established the clones producing retroviruses carrying the HSV-tk gene. The carcinoma cell line, HCT116 and Huh-7 were transduced with high-titer recombinant retroviruses. These cell lines were treated with ganciclovir before or after irradiation for the defining combinational effect of suicide gene therapy and radiotherapy. Results: The titers of cloned PA3 17 amphotropic retroviruses ranged from 4 to 6 X $10^6CFU/ml4$. After selectional periods, the expression of HSV-tk was confirmed by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The growth of cells expressing HSV-tk was inhibited as increase of GCV dose after 48 hr and the growth inhibitory effect of GCV was much higher after 72 hr. When the cells transduced with HSV-tk gene were exposed to radiation, the growth inhibitory effect of GCV was significantly increased, as compared with non-transduced parental cells. Conclusions: The results suggest that the addition of HSV-tk gene therapy to standard radiation therapy may improve the effectiveness of treatment for solid tumors.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.218-227
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• 2006

Purpose: The HSV1-tk reporter gene system is the most widely used system because of its advantage that direct monitoring is possible without the introduction of a separate reporter gene in case of HSV1-tk suicide gene therapy. In this study, we investigate the usefulness of the reporter probe (substrate), $9-(4-[^{18}F]Fluoro-3-hydroxymethylbutyl)$guanine ($[^{18}F]FHBG$) for non-invasive reporter gene imaging using PET in HSV1-tk expressing hepatoma model. Materials and Methods: Radiolabeled FHBG was prepared in 8 steps from a commercially available triester. The labeling reaction was carried out by NCA nucleophilic substitution with $K[^{18}F]/K2.2.2.$ in acetonitrile using N2-monomethoxytrityl-9-14-(tosyl)-3-monomethoxytritylmethylbutyl]guanine as a precursor, followed by deprotection with 1 N HCl. Preliminary biological properties of the probe were evaluated with MCA cells and MCA-tk cells transduced with HSV1-tk reporter gene. In vitro uptake and release-out studies of $[^{18}F]FHBG$ were performed, and was analyzed correlation between $[^{18}F]FHBG$ uptake ratio according to increasing numeric count of MCA-tk cells and degree of gene expression. MicroPET scan image was obtained with MCA and MCA-tk tumor bearing Balb/c-nude mouse model. Results: $[^{18}F]FHBG$ was purified by reverse phase semi-HPLC system and collected at around 16-18 min. Radiothemical yield was about 20-25%) (corrected for decay), radiochemical purity was >95% and specific activity was around >55.5 $GBq/{\mu}\;mol$. Specific accumulation of $[^{18}F]FHBG$ was observed in HSV1-tk gene transduced MCA-tk cells but not in MCA cells, and consecutive 1 hour release-out results showed more than 86% of uptaked $[^{18}F]FHBG$ was retained inside of cells. The uptake of $[^{18}F]FHBG$ was showed a highly significant linear correlation ($R^2=0.995$) with increasing percentage of MCA-tk numeric cell count. In microPET scan images, remarkable difference of accumulation was observed for the two type of tumors. Conclusion: $[^{18}F]FHBG$ appears to be a useful as non-invasive PET imaging substrate in HSV1-tk expressing hepatoma model.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.65-69
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• 2006

Novel 4'-hydroxymethyl branched thioapiosyl nucleosides were synthesized in this study. The introduction of hydroxymethyl group in the 4'-position was accomplished by a [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement. Thioapiosyl sugar moiety was constructed by sequential ozonolysis, reduction and cyclization. The pyrimidine nucleosidic bases (uracil, 5-fluorouracil, 5-iodouracil, 5-chlorouracil, 5-bromouracil) were efficiently coupled by Vorbruggen glycosyl condensation procedure (per-silyated base and TMSOTf). The antiviral activities of the synthesised compounds were evaluated against the HIV-1, HSV-1, HSV-2 and EMCV 5-Iodouracil 18 showed weak antiviral activity against HSV-1 $(EC_{50}=30.7{\mu}M)$.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.482-490
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• 2001

The gene for glycoprotein B (gB2) of HSV-2-strain G was subcloned, sequenced, recombinated into the lacZ-HcNPV, expressed in insect cells, and compared with the homologous gene of other HSV-2 strains. The ORF of the gB2 gene was 2,715 bp. The overall nucleotide sequence homology of te gB2 gene compared ith that of the two previously reported HSV-2 strains appeared to be over 98%. A recombinant virus named Baculo-gB2 protein in insect cells. The recombination was confirmed by a PCR and the expression was demonstrated by radio immunoprecipitation. Insect cells infected with the Baculo-gB2 virus synthesized and processed gB2 with approximately 120 kDa in the cells, and then secreted it into the culture media, where it reacted with a nomoclonal antibody to gB2. The gB2 polypeptide contained two main hydrophobic regions (a signal sequence from 1 to 23 amino acid residues, and a membrane anchor sequence from aa 745 to 798), eight N-glycosylation sites evenly distributed, and was rich in alanine (11.2%). Antibodies to this recombinant protein that were raised in mice recognized the viral gB2 and neutralized the infectivity of the HSV-2 in vitro. There results show that the gB2 protein was successfully porduced in insect cells and could be used to raise a protective neutralizing antibody. Accordingly, this particular recombinant protein may be useful in the development of a subunit vaccine.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.10
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• pp.1105-1110
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• 2005

Novel anomeric branched carbocyclic nucleosides were synthesized from 1,3-dihydroxy acetone. 4'-Hydroxymethyl was installed by [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement reaction and 1'-methyl group was introduced by carbonyl addition of methylmagnesium bromide. The coupling of nucleosidic bases and desilylation afforded a series of novel nucleosides. The synthesized compounds $16{\~}19$ were evaluated for their antiviral activity against HIV-1, HSV-1, HSV-2, and EMCV. Compounds 16 and 19 exhibit toxicity non-related to any anti-HIV-1 activity.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.68-77
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• 2005

Background: Costimulation is a critical process in Ag-specific immune responses. Both B7.1 and CD28 molecules have been reported to stimulate T cell responses during antigen presentation. Therefore, we tested whether Ag-specific immune responses as well as protective immunity are influenced by coinjecting with B7.1 and CD28 cDNAs in a mouse HSV-2 challenge model system. Methods: ELISA was used to detect levels of antibodies, cytokines and chemokines while thymidine incorporation assay was used to evaluate T cell proliferation levels. Results: Ag-specific antibody responses were enhanced by CD28 coinjection but not by B7.1 coinjection. Furthermore, CD28 coinjection increased IgG1 production to a significant level, as compared to pgD+pcDNA3, suggesting that CD28 drives Th2 type responses. In contrast, B7.1 coinjection showed the opposite, suggesting a Th1 bias. B7.1 coinjection also enhanced Ag-specific Th cell proliferative responses as well as production of Th1 type cytokines and chemokines significantly higher than pgD+pcDNA3. However, CD28 coinjection decreased Ag-specific Th cell proliferative responses as well as production of Th1 types of cytokines and chemokine significantly lower than pgD+pcDNA3. Only MCP-1 production was enhanced by CD28. B7.1 coimmunized animals exhibited an enhanced survival rate as well as decreased herpetic lesion formation, as compared to pgD+pcDNA3. In contrast, CD28 vaccinated animals exhibited decreased survival from lethal challenge. Conclusion: This study shows that B7.1 enhances protective Th1 type cellular immunity against HSV-2 challenge while CD28 drives a more detrimental Th2 type immunity against HSV-2 challenge, supporting an opposite role of B7.1 and CD28 in Ag-specific immune responses to a Th1 vs Th2 type.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.339-342
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• 2012

Background: About one third of the human population suffer cancer during their lifetime and more than 20% of total morbidity is related to neoplasia. Cervical cancer is generally the most common cancer in developing countries and the second most common in women globally. The role of human papilloma viruses viruses in its induction is clear. However, the involvement of hepres simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) is controversial. Therefore a survey was conducted of the prevalence of HSV-2 in patients with cervical cancer and also healthy people with sensitive and quantitative Taq Man real-time PCR assay. Materials and methods: Seventy six formaldehyde fixed paraffin embedded tissue specimens from patients with histologically proven history of cervical cancer as well as 150 control blocks were sectioned for deparaffinization and DNA extraction. Results: There was no HSV-2 DNA in our patient specimens but four control samples were positive, all with a history of hysterectomy. Conclusion: Considering the absence of any positive viral HSV-2 DNA in our patients and also the presence of four positive specimens among our controls, we did not find any relationship between the presence of HSV-2 DNA and cervical cancer.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.9
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• pp.939-943
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• 2003

Neonatal herpes simplex virus(HSV) infections result in significant morbidity and mortality. Although acyclovir treatment has improved survival, severe neurological sequelae can occur in the majority of survivors. HSV infections limited to the skin, eyes and mouth(SEM) can cause neurologic impairment. A direct correlation exists between the development of neurologic deficits and the frequency of cutaneous HSV recurrences. National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases(NIAID) Collaborative Antiviral Study Group conducted a phase I/II trial of continuous oral acyclovir therapy for the suppression of cutaneous recurrences. We describe a preterm infant who had two recurrences after neonatal SEM disease had been treated with intravenous acyclovir, and there were no more recurrences after continuous oral acyclovir suppressive therapy for six months. We report this case with a review of related literature.